“Conflicts cause deaths and injuries. They also disrupt the social, political and economic organization of societies, aggravate disparities and erode development. In protracted conflicts, the persistence of such disruption often leaves indelible marks on people and societies.
“Climate risks and environmental degradation only make matters worse. The convergence of climate risks and conflict further worsens food and economic insecurity and health disparities, limits access to essential services, while weakening the capacity of governments, institutions and societies to provide support.
“The impact of this overlap is not only wide-ranging; it is also far-reaching. Ripple effects can shape mobility, patterns of transhumance [livestock migration] or access to resources on a continental scale.” (When Rain Turn to Dust, ICRC, 2020)
The Climate Centre is supporting the ICRC and expanding its work to address the humanitarian impacts of climate change to include situations of conflict, as well as investing further on advancing research on this topic.
For more information, contact Catalina Jaime (jaime@climatecentre.org)